Sunday Liturgy, September 28, 2025

Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missalette, September-October 2025

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)  – 2nd week of the Psalter

First Reading

From the book of the prophet Amos (Am 6:1a, 4-7)

Woe to those who are complacent in Zion and to those who feel secure on Mount Samaria! Lying on beds of ivory and sprawled on their couches, they eat lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. They sing idle songs to the sound of the harp; like David, they improvise on musical instruments. They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but they are not concerned about the ruin of Joseph. Therefore, they will now go into exile at the head of the exiles, and the revelry of the revelers will cease.

The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the First Reading

I The text of the first reading, taken from the book of the prophet Amos, offers us the key to entering into and understanding the Gospel: “Woe to those who are complacent in Zion,” the prophet denounces, “…to those who feel secure… lying on beds of ivory and sprawled on their couches, they eat lambs… but they are not concerned about the ruin of Joseph… the revelry of the revelers will cease.” We might say that Amos places two attitudes that are highly valued even today in the dock: carefreeness and security. The pursuit of an illusory serenity that aims to live in peace rather than bring peace and relief to others. If, on the one hand, there is harsh condemnation, on the other there is reassurance that God has not forgotten the poor and the lowly: he hears their cry, often expressed without even words. God - we recite in the psalm - “remains faithful forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.” This is therefore a text that urges the former to convert before it is too late, and the latter not to let themselves be discouraged, because God is there.

Second Reading

From the first letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy (1 Tim 6:11-16)

But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made your good profession of faith in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who gave his good testimony before Pontius Pilate, I charge you to keep the commandment without stain and irreproachably until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about at the proper time, he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no human being has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Second Reading

The text of the second reading does not ordinarily follow the “theme” addressed by the first reading and the Gospel, yet today’s passage fits well into the reflection. Paul invites Timothy to remain steadfast, a true “man of God.” “Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” Virtues that everyone is called to cultivate, but even more so those who have chosen to follow and serve Jesus more closely. It is not a painless choice, Paul makes clear, but a struggle: “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of eternal life… Keep the commandment of love without stain and irreproachably.” These qualities suit every Christian well, so that we may not be deceived by the present world, but jealously safeguard the precious gift of Baptism, nourishing it through prayer and charity. Abandoning these guiding principles means finding ourselves in the dock denounced by the prophet Amos or in the place of the rich man in the Gospel. The decision is ours.

Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 16:19-31)

At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. From the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’” - The Gospel of the Lord.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel

This is not a condemnation of the rich, but a condemnation of those who think they can enrich themselves at the expense of the poor! “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments… and dined sumptuously. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.” First of all, we notice that we do not know the rich man’s name, as though he were a man without an identity or a history. The day comes when both die. But while Lazarus is in heaven, the rich man is in torment: “Father Abraham,” he cries, “have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water.” The interesting thing is that the rich man, amid his torment, not only recognizes Lazarus but calls him by name. Unfortunately, he does so only now, because he needs him. Today Jesus warns each of us about the responsibility we have toward the many brothers and sisters we meet along the way: do we recognize them as “brothers and sisters all,” or do we pretend not to see? In the end, judgment comes for everyone.